Two men were formally charged in Clay County Court at Louisville Monday in connection with the death of an 80-year-old rural Edgewood man in his home on September 26th.
Bond was set at $2.5-million apiece for 27-year-old Christopher Gallatin of Centralia and 30-year-old Walter West of Edgewood. They were charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary. One of the murder counts is based on the murder being committed during another forcible felony.
80-year-old Roger Courson was found deceased by a family member at his residence. A safe, multiple firearms, and a television were taken from the Courson residence.
The cause and manner of death have not been released.
The two suspects were taken into custody on September 30th following a tip from the public to the Effingham City Police Department Crime Stoppers.
State Police DCI is heading the investigation with assistance from the Clay and Marion County Sheriff’s Departments and Centralia Police.
